Outcome of scleral buckling with or without gas tamponade for recurrent retinal detachment in post-vitrectomy eyes

BACKGROUND: Treatment of recurrent retinal detachment (re-RD) following vitrectomy (post-gas/air tamponade and post-silicone oil removal) is challenging. Previously reported treatment is commonly revision pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with tamponade, which is invasive and a burden both economically and emotionally when compared with scleral buckling (SB). The purpose of this study is to report anatomical and functional outcomes of SB with or without gas tamponade in eyes with recurrent retinal detachment (re-RD) that previously underwent PPV at least once. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 14 patients (14 eyes) who underwent PPV at least once and were treated with SB after re-RD. Preoperative characteristics, intraoperative complications, and postoperative data were assessed. The final anatomical and functional outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The original PPV was performed for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in 11 eyes, macular hole retinal detachment in 2 eyes, and myopic foveoschisis in 1 eye. Previously, 3 eyes underwent one PPV with gas tamponade, and the remaining 11 (79%) eyes underwent 2–5 operations. Seven eyes underwent the procedure with gas injection. At the last follow-up, 13 eyes achieved total retinal attachment and 1 eye had re-RD. The postoperative intraocular pressure was within the normal range, except in 1 eye (6 mmHg). The finest postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/25. There was a significant improvement in BCVA from 20/160 ± 20/63 at baseline to 20/80 ± 20/50 at the last visit in the 13 successfully treated eyes (P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: SB can be effective for re-RD after PPV in specific cases.